Draft rigging



Feb, 1.7, 1925.

P. R. DRENNING DRAFT RIGGING Filed Dec.l 29. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l attaining Feb.. 17, i925.

" P. R'. DRENNING DRAFT RIGGING Filed Deo. 29. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/,Miet

Patented Feb. 17, 1925. l

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice.

IPERGY-R. DRLENNING, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIG-NOR, BYl MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 THE SYMINGTON COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

DRAFT RIGGING.

i Application filed December 29, 1923. Serial No. 683,482.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, PERCY R. DRENNING, a citizen of the United States, residingat Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Draft Rigging; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as'will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to railway draft rigging and more particularly to an improved draft gear attachment of the single key type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a railway draft rigging in which the yoke is slidably connected to the coupler, the latterbeing received into a relatively deep recessed portion .of the front follower member, said member being of a relatively increased depth and of great strength value.

Another object of the invention is to provide a railway draft rigging involving a front follower block of very light weight but maximum strength value, said block being easily manufactured asa casting and capable of being applied to the draft rigging without reducing thev pocket room therein receiving `the cushioning mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is vto provide a railway draft rigging in which thebutt end of the coupler is received and guided b means of the front follower member, portlons of s/aid follower extending forwardly of the end of the coupler buttand contacting an upper front stop member bridging the center sills and forming the striking' casting, `said forwardly extending portions of the follower also contacting a lower front stop member bridging the center sills and providing the coupler carry iron.

The invention has for a furtherV object the provision of a railway draft rigging including a horizontal yoke slidably connected to the coupler, upper and lower front stop members tying the center sills or draft sills, said stop members terminating short of the coupler butt, a relatively deep follower block interposed between the coupler and the cushioning mechanism, sa'id follower block having forwardly extendin portions contacting the respective upper and lower stop members,'said forwardly*l extending portions infaddition to embracing ,y the butt of the' coupler also being of a length equal to the increased spacing of the rear stop member and front stop members, which spacing 1s 1n excess of the standard A. It. A.l

fering with the usual operation of a single key attachment.

The invention further consists in the combination, construction and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings chosen to illustrate my invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure l is a top plan View of a railway draft rigging constructed in accordance with my invention and shown applied to the center sills or draft sills, portions of said ligure being broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, the coupler being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the forward end of the draft rigging showing` the coupler and key connectlng the same to the yoke in top plan view.

Fi ure 4 is a view in end 'elevation showing t e draft rigging pocket formed between the center sills and upper and lower stop In the' drawings the center sills 1-1 arev adapted to receive therebetween the horizontal yoke 2 slidably connected tothe coupler 3 by means of a key 4. The forward" ends of the center sills are connected by an upper tie castinff 5 and a lower tie casting 6, said castings bridging the center sills and providing front stop members ,co-acting with the front follower 7. i

The vupper -tie casting and stop member 5 is provided with a forwardly extending portion constituting the striking casting 8. A plurality of longitudinally extending vertically disposed webs 9 unite the striking casting with .the stop portion 10, the outermost of said webs providing the side walls of the casting and being rigidly connected to the center sills by means of rivets 11.

. The webs 9 extend upwardly from the transverse body web portion of the casting ex casting extend rearwardly of the stop por-- tion and are rmly connected to the center sills by `means of rivets 13.

The lower stop member and tie casting 6 is of channel cross section at its forward end and provides the coupler carry iron 14 whicha as shown, may receive a suitable filler or wear member 15 upon which the coupler bears. A transverse horizontal web 16 unites the channel portionA of lthel casting with the rear stop portion 17 thereof, a plurality of longitudinally extending and vertically disposed webs 18 projecting above and below said transverse web and uniting the striking portion with the stop ortion of the casting. A transversely and orwardly extending iiange 19 is provided for reinforcing the stop portion of the casting, said Hangs uniting the several vertically disposed webs 18. The lower casting 6 is provided with outwardly extending anges 20 disposed longitudinally thereof and adapted to underlie the lower flanges of the center sills and be connected thereto by means of a plurality of rivets 21. The rear ends of the flanges 20 extend beyond the stop portion of the casting and are connected to the center sills by means of the rivets 22.

` rlhe coupler butt extends beyond the stop faces of the upper and lower castings 5 and 6 bridging the center sills, said butt being received in the pocket or recess 23 provided in the follower block .7. The pocket 23 lies between the upper and lower walls 24, opposite side walls 25 and the vertical trans-y verse wall 26, said pocket or recess being of sutlicient depth to prevent the butt of the coupler entirely leaving the pocket under service conditions. wall or flan e 27 surrounds the forward open end of t e pocket or recess 23, the upper and lower portions of said wall being adapted to contact the faces of the stop portions 10 and 17 of the respective castings 5 and 6. The follower block is provided with a rear wall 28, said wall being spaced from the transverse web or wall 26 but connected thereto by means of a plurality of vertical and horizontally intersecting webs 29. Suitable core openings 30 are provided in the wall 28 to facilitate the casting of the intersecting horizontal and vertical webs designed to advantageously reinforce the block and permit of a relatively light weight construction.

The surrounding iange 27 and the wall 28 are united by a plurality of vertically 'Meeste the oppositely disposed walls 25 bordering the pocket 23 in the follower member. ltwill be observed that the longitudinally extending reinforcing webs 31 and 32 extend the full depth of the follower block, thereby adequately providing for the transmissionv of the loads between the cushioning mechanisin and the front stop members. It will also be noted that the relatively increased depth of the follower block permits of the couplerA butt being maintained within the pocket 23 without reducing the pocket receiving the cushioning mechanism, indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 1 the front stop members, as a result of said construetion, being disposed forwardly of the end of the coupler butt, as clearly shown. The follower is supported'upon a cross member 33 connected to the 'respective center sills by suitable bolts or rivets. Additional cross members 34 and 35 are adapted to bridge the center sills above and below the cushioning mechanism for maintaining the `saine in operative' position, as will be understood. A rear filler block 36 is preferably interposed between the cushioning mechanism and the inner face of the yoke4- said yoke filler block extending above and below the yolie, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The

rear stop member 37 is provided with a vertical transverse buiiing web 38 disposed rearwardly of the upper and lower transverse projecting portions 39 and 40 disposed adjacent the projecting portions of the filler block 36. The rear end of the yoke 2 is adapted to Contact the buiiing web 38 between the forwardly extending portions 39 and 40. The upper and' lower transverse anges 39 and40 are united with the opposite side walls of the casting by means of the obliquely dis osed portions intersecting said side walls in substantially a vertical plane passing through the butiing web 38. The upper transverse web is shown as reinforced by the bracing web 41 extending from the top wall 42 of the casting, said top wall uniting the opposite side walls 43 and 44. The bottom wall of tli'e casting is indicated by the numeral 45` said bottom wall `and top wall being united by the rearwardly extending vertically disposed web 46, said last named web being intersected by a horizontal transverse web 47 uniting the side walls and butiing wall 38 of the casting. The rear end of the web 47 is flanged in the nature of a beam. the depth of said beam being greater at the center than at the sides of the back stop, thereby permitting the lUO lill

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Elli) bill Lacasse cordance with my present invention pro-` vides a very strong' and durable construction in which the upper and lower front stop members and front followerblock cooperate .to 4permit of the coupler butt being effectively controlled without reducing the travel of the draft gear or otherwise causing a ieduction in its capacity. lt will be observed that the relatively increased distance between the. front and rear stop members ofthmdraft rigging over the standard A. R. A, dimensions is taken care of by tlie'improved construction of follower block, ythe forwardly extending portions of'said 'block encircling the coupler butt being equal in `length Vto the increased spacing of the stop members.

l. llna railway draft rigging, the combination with center sills, of a coupler, a yoke slidably connected to said coupler, a vfollower member contacting .the rear end of the coupler and having. forwardly extending portions embracing the butt thereof, a cushioning mechanism interposed between said follower and yolre, a rear stop member coopcrating with the yoke, and front stop menibers cooperating with the forwardly extending portions of the follower member, said front stop members being spaced from the rear stop member a distance in excess of the A.. ld. A. dimensions vfor co-action with the standard length coupler., said follower inember acting to guide said coupler and being interposed between the cushioning mechanism and front stop members so as to maintain the full depth vof poclrct receiving said cushioning mechanism.

2. iln a railway draft rigging, the cembrnation with Acenter sills, "of a standard coupler having a yolrc slidably connected thereto, a cushioning mechanism, a follower t bloeit .adapted to guide the butt of the cushioning mechanism, front-stop members connected to the center sills, and. a frontfollower interposed between 'said front stop members and the cushioning mechanism,

lsaid follower having a forwardly disposed dang@ contacting the front stop members and 'a rearwardly'spaced wall' portion interposed between'theend ofthe coupler and `cus'hioning mechanism, and surrriundinfr);v wall portions uniting said dando andrea'r f wall portion forforming-a poctlret adapte-d to receive the butt of the coupler.

a, lln a' railway draft rigging, the combination with center sills, a coupler,\\'a yclre slidably connected to said coupler, ,rear stop member cov-acting'v with said yolle, 4a

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cushioningniechanism, front stop members connected tothe center sills, and a frontifollower interposed' between said liront stop men'i'beis and the ciishioning mechanism, said follower having a forwardly displised flange surrounding thejcoupler butt and a rear wall contactingtlie cushioning melianisni, and a plurality of longitudinally disy osed webs unitin@q said flange and rear wallD E3 C: y

5'. lin a railwaydraft rigging, thecombination with center sills, a coupler, a yolre slidably connected to said coupler, a rear stop member cosacting with said yohe, a

cushioning mechanism, front stop members connected to the center sills, and a front follower interposed between saidufront stop members and the cushioning mechanism,

said` follower having a forwardly disposed" flange surrounding the coupler butt and rear wall. contacting `the cushioning mechanisni, andlongitudinally disposed surrounding wall portions uniting saiddange and rear wall, said surroundin wall portions acting to embrace thel butt oi the coupler for guidingv the'same.

6. lin a railway' draft rigging, the combination with center sills, of a coupler, a yolre slidably connected to said coupler, a 'rear stop member' eo-acting with said yohda cushioning mechanism, front st-op members connected to the center sills, anda front follower interposed between said sto members and the cushioning mechanism, said follower having a forwardly disposed wall adapted to contact the front stop members, al plurality ef spaced rear walls one of which con- Atacts the 'cushioning mechanism, and the other of which contacts the end of the cou'- pler, and a plurality of longitudinally disposed webs uniting said forwardly dis osed wall and spaced rear walls, said webs ing adapted to embrace the butt of the coupler.

7. ln a railway draft rigging, the combilll@ ldd

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bers and the cushioning mechanism, said-fo'lj'nally disposed Wall portions adapted to emlower having a forwardly disposed wall adapted to contact the front stop members, a rear wall adapted to contact the cushion: ingrnechanism, and a plurality of longitudinally extending webs uniting said Walls, said webs being adapted to embrace and guide the butt of the coupler throughout its full travel.

8. ln a lrailway draft rigging, the combination with center sills, of a coupler, a yoke slidably connected to said coupler, a cushioning mechanism, a follower block adapted to contact said cushioning` mechanism and having' forwardly extending portions designedto embrace the butt of the' coupler, and front stop members arranged above and belowsaid coupler and connected 'to the center sills, said stop members bridging the cen-` ter sills and having stop faces terminating short ofthe inner end of the coupler for cof'action with said 4i'orwardly extending portions of the follower.

9. A follower block for railway draft rigging comprising a .plurality of longitudibrace a coupler butt and having an cutwardly extending surrounding flange at one end thereof forming a front wall, a rear wall providing a closure for the opposite ends of said wall portions and adapted to Contact vthe cushioning mechanism of the draft rigging, and means reinforcing said flange and rear wall.

10. A follower block for railway draft rigging comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed' wall portions adapted'to embrace a coupler butt and having an outwardly extending surrounding flange at one end thereof forming a front wall, a plurality of rear walls forming a closure for 'the opposite ends of said wall portions and a con- Itacting face for cooperation. with `the cushioning mechanism, a plurality of webs uniting said rear walls, and a plurality of webs uniting said surrounding ange and rear walls.

ln testimony'whereof aiix my signature.

PERCY R. DRENNING. 

